Utilization of renewable waste material for the sustainable development of thermally stable and biologically active aliphatic amine modified Cardanol (phenolic lipid) - Formaldehyde free standing films

The recognition of the alarming increased cost and looming exhaustion of petroleum resources for the production of polymeric resins for versatile applications has prompted us to switch towards green and sustainable resources. There is an immediate urge to develop bio-based polymeric resins via sustainable routes with enhanced properties for their utilization in polymer and coating applications. The present investigation reports the synthesis and characterization of aliphatic amine, Hexamethylene tetramine (HMTA) modified Cardanol(Col)-Formaldehyde(F) (Col-FA) free standing films and coatings for versatile applications through the use of cost-effective and renewable starting material, Col (agro byproduct of cashew nut processing) and HMTA (optimum amount, 15%) obviating the toxic solvent usage. The result indicated transparent (red-yellow colored), homogenous Col-FA films with amorphous morphology, and can serve as an eco-friendly, thermally stable (up to 430–440 °C), chemically resistant (against various solvents), mechanically robust and biologically active (moderate activity) material. The overall synthesis strategy is environmentally benign, employs safer chemistry and is consistent with the principles of “Green Chemistry” (principles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 12). This is a highly desirable and excellent approach to develop free standing, transparent, flexible, thermally stable, chemically resistant and antibacterial thin films/coatings to increase the application of Col.